Woodland attractions are for me less a marketing term than an honest indication that this small corner of Illinois has more to offer than one would suspect at first glance. Honestly, the city was founded in 1857 as a stop for the railway line and has since preserved a bit of the rough charm that one expects from a real rural community. I like to sit in the old central station, where the echo of the former steam locomotives is still noticeable, and wonder why people are still talking about “city flair” when this has been working here for over 150 years.
Belmont Township, which surrounds the whole, is a maze of fields that look like an endless golden sea in the summer – perfect if you want to escape the hectic city life. The journey is surprisingly uncomplicated: a short trip to the Interstate 57, then a few miles of road, and you are already standing in front of the small but proud town hall, which carries more history in its walls than some big city halls.
I don't quite understand the hype about the big metropolises, but here, between the corn fields and the old barns, I find a tranquility that you can find only hard in a crowded café. And yes, if you ask yourself where you can park – the old corn warehouse offers enough space for a few cars, and this is practical because the main road is hardly ever going to drive. So, it was from my side, but the true Woodland sights are only discovered when you walk along the dusty paths.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Woodland, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was the Iroquois County Historical Museum in Watseka – a place I used to only knew from dusty guides until I was there and was greeted by an old Tractor-Exponat-Kuh. The building itself is a converted bank building from the 1920s, and the interior is packed with artifacts that trace rural life here in the 1800s to modern times. I have to admit, I was skeptical if a museum in the prairie can be exciting at all, but the interactive stations where you can try old typewriters have surprised me completely. Parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you do not come to the “County Fair” on Saturday night – then the parking lot becomes the battlefield.
A short jump to the south leads to Iroquois County Courthouse in Iroquois. The brick building looks like a relic from a Western film, complete with a watch that has been standing for decades – a perfect photo motif for Instagram-Aficionados who like to post “vintage”. I met an old lawyer there who told me that the trials have still penetrated by a touch of rustic authority. The courtyard is freely accessible, and a short walk there lets you forget the time until the ringing of the city bank tears the silence.
If you have the heart for nature, you cannot leave the Kankakee River State Park even though it is a piece outside the real “Woodland” region. The river swells through wide meadows, and the hiking trails are so well maintained that even my grandmother, who hardly knows more than the supermarket around the corner, could turn here a round without running. I shared a picnic with a local angler who told me that fishing in the Kankakee is almost a ritual in the autumn – the trouts would like to bite them a bit of humor.
Another highlight is the annual Iroquois County Fairgrounds event that takes place in August. The Fairgrounds themselves are a huge field of carousel, cattle turtles and a lot of stands that offer everything from homemade apple cake to handmade leather boots. I remember the moment when I stood in a snake for the “Corn Dog” stand and suddenly passed a tractor with a group of high school dancers – a picture I will never forget. Practical: The driveway is well signposted via the U.S. route 52, and parking is generous as long as you don't try to drive the entire terrain in one train.
For those looking for a little more history and less hustle and bustle, the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Loda is a silent refuge. The church, built in 1885, impresses with its gothic windows and the crunchy wooden organ game, which recalls Sunday worship services from another era. I met a small group of seniors who told me that the church building has been the social heart of the community for over a century – a place where you can still have real conversations without a phone ringing.
A short detour to Gilman leads to the Iroquois County Wind Farm, a modern monument of huge, silent turbines that stretch over the prairie. I stood there at sunset, while the rotor blades cut quietly through the air, and thought about how the image of the landscape has changed over the last few decades. Access is free, and a small car park on the edge of the grounds offers enough space to enjoy the acting – provided you do not come during the weekly maintenance work, then it can become a bit louder.
Whether you're looking for history, nature or a little bit of both, the surroundings of Woodland will provide a colourful mix of experiences that go far beyond what you would expect from a small community in the heart of Illinois. Woodland Sights not only offer photo motifs, but also real encounters that make the journey here a slightly cynical but nevertheless loveable adventure.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Woodland is not some hip-café, but the inconspicuous Woodland Park on Main Street – a piece of green that has more character than some overpriced city park. There is a playground that looks like a retired carpenter built from the 80s, and a few benches that you like to take after a long day in the car. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole neighborhood unpacks its barbecue parties. I once made a picnic with my mate, while an older couple spoke loudly about the “good old times” – that was almost a local play.
A short walk on, and you stumble over the Woodland Community Center. The building is a bit like an old school house that has turned into an event center, and I don't understand the hype about the monthly “art and coffee finishes”, but the atmosphere is really great: the walls are wallpapered with local artworks, and the staff knows you when you first enter the room. I tried a yoga course there once – not because I am particularly flexible, but because I wanted to let the soul grow after a long working day. The course was rather a “stretch and snoring”, but the smile of the participants was contagious.
If you are looking for a bit of spiritual food, then look at these Woodland Library on. She is part of the McHenry County District Library network and has more books than an average student in a lecture. I found an old photo album there that documents the foundation of the village – a real treasure for historical lovers. Parking is a klack here because the building has a small parking space, and the staff is so friendly that they even recommend you a book you would never read just because it “just fits you”.
Another jewel I mention is the St John the Baptist Catholic Church. The church is not only a place for worship, but also an architectural relic from the 1900s, which impresses every visitor with its red brick façade and the artistic glass windows. I took part in a wedding there – not because I am a romantic, but because I wanted to take the opportunity to test the free buffet. The food was actually better than one would expect from a small village church, and the acoustics inside makes one almost believe you are in an opera.
Now a little nature: The Belmont Prairie is just a few minutes outside of Woodland and is a real highlight for all those who appreciate the country life. I don't understand why some people prefer the “urban” hiking trails if you can experience here an untouched prairie with wild flowers and birds. The path is well marked, parking is enough at the visitor center, and you can walk around there for hours without a tourist harassing you with loud cameras. Last weekend, I made a little picnic there and watched a fox look curious from the bush – a moment I don't forget so fast.
A short detour leads you to Old Mill Road, an old rural road that stretches through the rural Illinois. It is not exactly a “Must Lake”, but the quiet atmosphere and the occasional old barns make it a perfect route for a relaxed car ride. I once saw an old tractor that is still cultivated by a retired farmer – an image that would be almost too cheesy to describe it, but it is exactly what Woodland is.
For those who want to make a little story, there is Woodland Historical Society Museum. The museum is small but fine, and shows artefacts from the founding period of the village, including old tools, photos and even a piece of original floor from the first school. I found an old letter where a resident wrote about the “big storms” of 1913 – that was a real look into the past, and the staff patiently explained to me why the village held so strong at that time.
And yes, I can Woodland Cemetery do not forget, which is not exactly a place for holidaymakers, but for me is a silent witness of history. The tombstones tell stories about families living here for generations, and the terrain is surprisingly well maintained. I once visited an old veteran farm, whose inscription brought me to think about how fast life is going – a short but impressive moment, which dampens the otherwise so loose mood a little.
All this together Woodland Sights to a mix of nostalgia, local cordiality and a bit rough reality. So, if you're driving through Illinois the next time and want to discover something that's not overrun by Instagram influencers, stop by – I promise you, you won't be disappointed as long as you're ready to accept some dust and honest conversations.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
